Floating actuator for mower deck

Abstract

A mower includes a chassis, a tractive element coupled to the chassis, a mower deck coupled to the chassis and including a cutting element, and a deck actuator assembly configured to raise the mower deck relative to the chassis. The deck actuator assembly includes a frame coupled to the chassis, an output interface coupled to the mower deck and slidably coupled to the frame, a first stop fixedly coupled to the output interface, a second stop, and an actuator configured to reposition the second stop relative to the frame. The second stop is positioned to (a) engage the first stop to limit movement of the output interface in a first direction and (b) permit movement of the first stop in a second direction opposite the first direction.

1 . A mower, comprising:
 a chassis;   a tractive element coupled to the chassis;   a mower deck coupled to the chassis and including a cutting element; and   a deck actuator assembly configured to raise the mower deck relative to the chassis, the deck actuator assembly including:
 a frame coupled to the chassis; 
 an output interface coupled to the mower deck and slidably coupled to the frame; 
 a first stop fixedly coupled to the output interface; 
 a second stop positioned to (a) engage the first stop to limit movement of the output interface in a first direction and (b) permit movement of the first stop in a second direction opposite the first direction; and 
 an actuator configured to reposition the second stop relative to the frame. 
   
     
     
         2 . The mower of  claim 1 , wherein movement of the output interface in the first direction lowers the mower deck, and wherein movement of the output interface in the second direction raises the mower deck. 
     
     
         3 . The mower of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a threaded rod engaging the second stop and a motor configured to drive rotation of the threaded rod to reposition the second stop relative to the frame. 
     
     
         4 . The mower of  claim 3 , wherein the threaded rod extends through an aperture defined by the first stop. 
     
     
         5 . The mower of  claim 3 , further comprising a gear train coupling the motor to the threaded rod, the gear train including a first gear coupled to the motor and a second gear coupled to the threaded rod. 
     
     
         6 . The mower of  claim 5 , further comprising a third gear coupling the first gear to the second gear. 
     
     
         7 . The mower of  claim 6 , wherein the third gear is in meshing engagement with the first gear, and wherein a diameter of the third gear is larger than a diameter of the first gear. 
     
     
         8 . The mower of  claim 7 , wherein the first gear is longitudinally offset from the second gear. 
     
     
         9 . The mower of  claim 6 , wherein the threaded rod is a first threaded rod, wherein the actuator further includes a second threaded rod engaging the second stop, and wherein the third gear is coupled to the second threaded rod. 
     
     
         10 . The mower of  claim 5 , wherein the first gear is in meshing engagement with the second gear. 
     
     
         11 . The mower of  claim 10 , wherein the threaded rod is a first threaded rod, wherein the actuator further includes a second threaded rod engaging the second stop and a third gear coupled to the second threaded rod, and wherein the third gear is in meshing engagement with the first gear. 
     
     
         12 . The mower of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator shaft coupling the first stop to the output interface, wherein the actuator shaft extends through an aperture defined by the second stop. 
     
     
         13 . The mower of  claim 12 , wherein the aperture is a first aperture, further comprising a guide defining a second aperture and a standoff extending between the guide and the frame, wherein the actuator shaft extends through the second aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The mower of  claim 13 , wherein the standoff extends through a third aperture defined by the first stop and through a fourth aperture defined by the second stop. 
     
     
         15 . The mower of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor coupled to the frame and configured to provide sensor data indicating a position of the first stop; and   a controller operatively coupled to the actuator and the sensor and configured to limit operation of the actuator based on the sensor data.   
     
     
         16 . The mower of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a sensor coupled to the frame and configured to provide sensor data indicating a position of the second stop; and   a controller operatively coupled to the actuator and the sensor and configured to limit operation of the actuator based on the sensor data.   
     
     
         17 . A mower, comprising:
 a chassis;   a mower deck coupled to the chassis and including a cutting element; and   a deck actuator assembly configured to raise the mower deck relative to the chassis, the deck actuator assembly including:
 a frame coupled to the chassis; 
 an actuator shaft coupled to the mower deck and slidably coupled to the frame; 
 a shaft stop fixedly coupled to the actuator shaft; 
 a control stop positioned to engage the shaft stop, wherein the actuator shaft is configured to move freely relative to the frame throughout a longitudinal range of motion, and wherein an end of the longitudinal range of motion is defined by the shaft stop engaging the control stop; and 
 an actuator configured to vary the longitudinal range of motion of the actuator shaft by repositioning the control stop relative to the frame. 
   
     
     
         18 . The mower of  claim 17 , wherein the actuator includes:
 a threaded rod rotatably coupled to the frame and extending through a threaded passage defined by the control stop; and   an electric motor coupled to the frame and configured to drive rotation of the threaded rod.   
     
     
         19 . A floating linear actuator comprising:
 a frame defining a first connection interface;   a guide defining a shaft passage, the shaft passage extending longitudinally through the guide;   a standoff extending longitudinally between the frame and the guide and fixedly coupling the guide to the frame;   an actuator shaft defining a second connection interface and extending through the shaft passage;   a shaft stop fixedly coupled to the actuator shaft;   a control stop defining a threaded passage, the control stop being positioned to engage the shaft stop to limit movement of the shaft stop in a first direction and permit movement of the shaft stop in a second direction;   a threaded rod rotatably coupled to the frame and extending through the threaded passage; and   a motor configured to drive rotation of the threaded rod.   
     
     
         20 . The floating linear actuator of  claim 19 , wherein the first direction is an extending direction, wherein the second direction is a retracting direction, and wherein the movement of the actuator shaft in the extending direction increases a distance between the first connection interface and the second connection interface.